As the world's No. 1 ranked cornhole player and the five-time national champion "King of Cornhole" tournament winner, Matt Guy knows a few things about winning.

Here are his tips for success:

1. Master the throw

Although most are tempted to pitch their bags like a softball, Guy says it's more important to pitch it like a Frisbee:

"A flat, clockwise spin to the bag" is the most critical thing to master, Guy said, and increases a player's chances of throwing consistently.

2. Aim for the middle

Guy says players who can consistently land their bags in the middle of the board will have the most success. Many will fall in the hole, others will block your opponent from sliding a bag in.

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"You need to hit the same part of the board every time," Guy said.

3. Mail it in

Professionals call it an "air mail" shot -- the toss where the bag falls through the hole without touching the board -- a feat that's especially important if other bags are cluttering up a player's ability to bounce a bag in.

Guy said most players overestimate their aim and overthrow the board. Slight adjustments to a throw's arc, or a slight addition of power, will usually suffice.

"It's only 12 inches more than you would normally throw," Guy said, "although it seems longer."

4. Know your board

Although it may seem inconsequential, Guy said players outdoors should watch how their bags react on the game board. Small changes in temperature, changes in humidity, or the sun disappearing behind a cloud can all affect the way a bag bounces and slides.

"It can change throughout the day," Guy said. "You just have to adjust."

Although the game's supposed origin dates back hundreds of years -- many different cultures on different continents had games that included throwing one object into or near another object -- one supposed origin dates back to Midwestern pioneers who would throw bags of corn to pass the time.

The truth is, no one really knows for sure where the name or the game got its start.

But in the last 20 years, cornhole histories say, the game really began taking hold in two places: the region surrounding Cincinnati and pockets of Chicago and northern Illinois.

Indiana, stuck between the two hot spots, was the logical spot for expansion.

Part of the game's rapid spread is likely based on the ease of getting started. Numerous websites outline how to build a basic set of playing boards out of plywood and two-by-fours in a matter of hours.

Today, Anspaugh says, the American Cornhole Organization has affiliates on both coasts and the game is played, sometimes under different names, in all 50 states.

In Michiana, the game's popularity has spread beyond backyards and tailgate lots to area bars and restaurants, which host weekly leagues and informal competitions.

Soon, it could spread even farther.

Matt Guy, the No. 1-ranked cornhole player in the world and the five-time "King of Cornhole" national championship tournament winner, said he and three other "professional" cornhole players were invited to ESPN's company picnic last year to teach executives and media personalities the finer points of the game.

Guy, who lives near Cincinnati, said in the next five to 10 years, if not sooner, he expects cornhole tournaments to be broadcast by the cable sports giant.

As hard as that is for him to believe, Guy -- who still works a regular job because cornhole tournament winnings aren't enough to offset a regular paycheck -- says the game's steady growth is hard to deny.

This year, Topps, the company known for baseball cards, put Guy's picture on a trading card of his own.

"I never imagined that would happen in my entire life," Guy said.

But even as the sports grows in popularity and recognition, it's hard to deny cornhole's roots as a recreational game.

Anspaugh said he knows of players who can't play well without a beer can in their free hand because they swear it throws off their balance.

"It's hard to believe how big it is now," Anspaugh said. "Just about every festival has a tournament at it. You see it at tailgates, backyard parties, just about everywhere. And it keeps growing."